Walter Owen Irish graduated to be with the Lord Thursday morning, April 1, 2021 at age 91. He passed quietly in his sleep after a three-year struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Owen was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by his family and those who knew him.
He was born on September 20, 1929 and raised in Tulsa, OK where he attended Tulsa Central High School. Owen lived with his grandmother from the age of 12 after the death of his mother. He attended Tulsa University for three years before moving to Houston to attend Rice University where he graduated with an Accounting degree. Owen subsequently obtained his CPA and CFP designations in later years.
While at Rice, Owen joined the Naval ROTC. Upon graduation, he served in the Navy aboard an ASW (anti-submarine warfare) destroyer in the Pacific Ocean and off the coast of Korea. When he returned to Houston, he joined the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen where he worked until going to work for Cyprus Mines Corporation in California. In 1959, he met and married the love of his life, Marianne Dittman. They married at First Presbyterian Church in Houston, TX. He and his family lived in San Marino, CA for 8 years where they made many amazing friends. In 1972, they moved back to the southwest part of Houston to raise their family and never left.
Owen loved snow skiing with his family which he did for most of his life including skiing in Park City, UT for 17 years with his children and grandchildren. He also loved playing tennis every Saturday morning with his tennis men’s group. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and radio control airplane flying. He also enjoyed singing in barbershop choruses and quartets which he did every chance he could. Every year over the Fourth of July, he attended the Barbershop International Convention.
Owen spent many of his years serving at Quail Valley Community Church as an elder and Southminster Presbyterian Church. He loved to sing in the choir and serve his community and friends. Owen helped lead various financial ministries, bible study groups, and aspects of the church school.
Owen is survived by his wife Marianne, daughter Courtney, son Derek, daughter-in-law Jemma, and five grandchildren, Kennedy, Colin, Cassidy, Elisa and Jack, as well as, many extended family members.
The family would like to especially thank the caregivers and staff at Autumn Years who took great care of Owen in his final years of life.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 12, at 10am at the gravesite in Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery (12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077). Please check with the cemetery’s front desk for a map to the gravesite. No flowers or donations are necessary.
Services
Graveside Service
Mon. Apr. 12, 2021
10:00 am
Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery
12800 Westheimer
Houston , TX 77077.
Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery
Houston , TX 77077.
Walter Owen Irish graduated to be with the Lord Thursday morning, April 1, 2021 at age 91. He passed quietly in his sleep after a three-year struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Owen was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by his family and those who knew him.
He was born on September 20, 1929 and raised in Tulsa, OK where he attended Tulsa Central High School. Owen lived with his grandmother from the age of 12 after the death of his mother. He attended Tulsa University for three years before moving to Houston to attend Rice University where he graduated with an Accounting degree. Owen subsequently obtained his CPA and CFP designations in later years.
While at Rice, Owen joined the Naval ROTC. Upon graduation, he served in the Navy aboard an ASW (anti-submarine warfare) destroyer in the Pacific Ocean and off the coast of Korea. When he
returned to Houston, he joined the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen where he worked until going to work for Cyprus Mines Corporation in California. In 1959, he met and married the love of his life, Marianne Dittman. They married at First Presbyterian Church in Houston, TX. He and his family lived in San Marino, CA for 8 years where they made many amazing friends. In 1972, they moved back to the southwest part of Houston to raise their family and never left.
Owen loved snow skiing with his family which he did for most of his life including skiing in Park City, UT for 17 years with his children and grandchildren. He also loved playing tennis every Saturday morning with his tennis men’s group. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and radio control airplane flying. He also enjoyed singing in barbershop choruses and quartets which he did every chance he could. Every year over the Fourth of July, he attended the Barbershop International Convention.
Owen spent many of his years serving at Quail Valley Community Church as an elder and Southminster Presbyterian Church. He loved to sing in the choir and serve his community and friends. Owen helped lead various financial ministries, bible study groups, and aspects of the church school.
Owen is survived by his wife Marianne, daughter Courtney, son Derek, daughter-in-law Jemma, and five grandchildren, Kennedy, Colin, Cassidy, Elisa and Jack, as well as, many extended family members.
The family would like to especially thank the caregivers and staff at Autumn Years who took great care of Owen in his final years of life.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 12, at 10am at the gravesite in Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery (12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077). Please check with the cemetery’s front desk for a map to the gravesite. No flowers or donations are necessary.
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